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Signalman 1 & C - Historic Naval Ships Association

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termination of the call, ruffles and flourishes, music, orgun salute, depending on which is the last rendered. Ifa gun salute is not prescribed on arrival but a flag orpennant is to be displayed during the visit, it is brokenat the start of the call.6. Piping of the side, ruffles and flourishes, andmusic are rendered in that order. In the absence of aband, “To the Colors” is sounded on the bugle in lieu ofthe national anthem, when required.7. The visitor, if entitled to 11 guns or more, isinvited to inspect the guard upon completion of honors.DepartingDeparture honors for an official visit are asfollows:1. The rail is manned, if required.2. “Attention” is sounded as the visitor arrives onthe quarterdeck.3. When the visitor is ready to leave the ship, theguard presents arms; all persons on the quarterdecksalute; and ruffles and flourishes, followed by music,are rendered. The visitor is then piped over the side. Thesalute and present arms terminate with the last note ofthe call. If no salute is to be fired, the flag or pennantdisplayed in honor of the visitor is hauled down.4. The boat or vehicle is piped away from the side.5. If a gun salute is prescribed on departure, it isfired when the visitor is clear of the side. If a flag orpennant is displayed in honor of the visitor, it is hauleddown with the last gun of the salute.The same honor and ceremonies as for an officialvisit to a ship of the Navy is rendered, insofar aspracticable and appropriate, on the occasion of anofficial visit to a naval station, except that manning therail, piping the side, and parading side boys are notconsidered appropriate. When, in the opinion of thesenior officer present, such honors will serve a definitepurpose, they may be rendered.<strong>Signalman</strong>'s DutiesThe <strong>Signalman</strong>'s responsibilities for honorsduring official visits are the proper display of flags orpennants. That entails some advance planning andcoordination to ensure a snappy evolution.A basic rule for the display is that only onedistinctive mark may fly from a ship. Thus, if theperson visiting is an officer eligible for command atsea who rates a personal flag or command pennant, thepersonal flag flies in lieu of the commission pennant.If the ship visited is a flagship and the officer visitingis senior to the commander of the unit and rates apersonal flag or command pennant, the personal flagor command pennant of the officer visiting flies in lieuof the unit commander's personal flag or pennant. Theflag or pennant of an officer not eligible for commandat sea is not displayed from a ship of the Navy.The Red Cross flag is never replaced. The flyingof the personal flag of an officer eligible for commandof a warship at sea violates the neutrality of theprovisions of the Geneva Convention.In addition to the rule that only one distinctivemark may be displayed at one time, the commissionpennant and personal flag of a civil official may notbe displayed simultaneously. When a civil official inwhose honor the display of a personal flag isprescribed pays an official visit or embarks forpassage, the personal flag is displayed at the aftermasthead or most conspicuous hoist, replacing thedistinctive mark. If the mark is a commission pennant,it is immediately lowered; if it is an officer's personalflag or command pennant, it is shifted, as explainedearlier in this chapter.Visits during dress ship also provide variations indisplaying personal flags and command pennants.Check U.S. Navy Regulations and NTP 13 for details.HONORS ON RELIEF OF COMMANDWhen a flag officer or a unit commander relievesa command or departs after being relieved, the samehonors are rendered as for an official visit, subject toregulations pertaining to gun salutes.When assuming a command, an officer readshis/her orders to the assembled officers and crew.Immediately after reading the orders, the officer'spersonal flag or command pennant is broken, and agun salute, if required, is fired.If the flag officer or unit commander is relievinganother officer in command, the officer being relievedreads his/her orders to the assembled officers andcrew. On completion thereof, or after the gun salute,if fired, the commission pennant is hoisted and thepersonal flag or pennant immediately lowered. Theofficer succeeding to command then reads his/herorders, and on completion thereof, the flag orcommand pennant is broken and the ship'scommission pennant is hauled down.10-17

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